The details are both unclear and contested, but what appears to have happened is essentially this: they took over a border post, attacked a few villages on the Russian side of the border north of Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, and advanced several dozen kilometres further into Russia before being beaten back by Russian troops. Russia claims they killed 70, but there is no corroboration.
Ukraine says it was a couple of Russian volunteer groups opposed to President Putin, operating independently of the Kyiv government; Russia says it was Ukrainian saboteurs and terrorists operating with the full knowledge and support of Kyiv. But whoever was behind this raid is a secondary detail to the fact that it happened.
There have been several attempted cross-border incursions in recent months, but this appears to have been the biggest, longest and best organised. Verified pictures also showed the group had been using US-made vehicles, such as Humvees, suggesting either a diversion or an authorised use of military aid.
Brief and apparently thwarted though it was, the raid adds to evidence that the war in Ukraine has started to spread into Russia proper. There have been drone attacks into border areas, targeting munitions dumps and other facilities. There have been a spate of reported derailments, including of long-distance freight trains, in Bryansk and other regions close to Ukraine.
There have been three political assassinations, or attempted assassinations, starting with the death of Darya Dugina, the daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist ideologue; continuing with the St Petersburg based blogger who wrote as Vladlen Tatarsky, killed by a bomb concealed inside a statuette; and earlier this month the apparent attempt on the life of another nationalist writer, Zakhar Prilepin, in a car-bomb that killed his passenger and left Prilepin with serious injuries.
This story is from the May 26, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 26, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Hamilton is the big draw for a London spin on F1 show
Prior to the Drive to Survive era that triggered the sport’s unprecedented boom, one of Liberty Media’s first ventures as Formula One’s bright-eyed American owners came in the summer of 2017.
'In France, I lead a much easier, much simpler life'
Former Premier League star Andy Carroll speaks to Dani Gil about his topsy-turvy career, and his new start at Bordeaux
Breaking point: a title era is ending before our very eyes
Blame Antonio Conte, perhaps. The former Chelsea manager was not the pioneer but he was a trailblazer.
Withdrawals force Carsley to blood youth in Greece tie
It is an England football team, if not the England team that will take the field in Athens on Thursday night. Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish is a line-up that would require a false nine.
Is this a megajob too much for even Musk to handle?
Just when you thought Elon Musk’s involvement in politics was over after he helped to secure the election of his new BFF, Donald Trump, it was announced that he is going to be a key figure in the running of the US for the foreseeable future.
Fuller's boss warns of price rises after Budget tax hike
A major pub chain has joined the growing list of hospitality businesses warning of price rises due to Labour’s Budget.
Post Office shake-up puts 115 branches under threat
Move affecting 1,000 workers is tone deaf’ says union boss
High alert as Costa del Sol residents flee fresh storms
Fresh storms in Spain have left streets deluged and forced schools to close, two weeks after the worst floods in the country’s modern history, which killed more than 220 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
Senior Russian naval officer dies in Crimea car bombing
A senior Russian naval officer has been killed in a car bombing in occupied Crimea the latest in a series of targeted attacks on Russian military personnel.
Europe faces a bigger threat level if US warms to Putin
According to anonymous sources quoted in The Washington Post, one of Donald Trump’s first actions on being re-elected was to call Vladimir Putin. That call was immediately denied by the Kremlin.
